Bridle and hackamore bit



Feb. 22, L BURGESS BRIDLE AND HAGKAMdRE BIT Filed Feb. 25, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l oGQQwv k 9 L. A. BURGESS 2,342,449

BRIDLE AND HACKAMORE BIT Filed Feb. 25, 1943 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 22, 1944 UNITED STATES'PATENT OFFICE BRIDLE AND HACKAMORE BIT Lou A. Burgess, Sasabe, Ariz.

Application February 25, 1943, Serial No. 477,115

8 Claims. 7

This invention relates to a combination bridle and hackamore bit.

It is particularly aimed to provide such a construction which may be used to apply pressure simultaneously on the nose, mouth and chin of the animal and a construction which may in the backamore form apply pressure on the nose, and such a form as may be readily changed over from driving to hackamore condition.

' The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing the structure in side elevation and applied to a horse for driving purposes;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the structure alone;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane of line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detail section taken on the plane of line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a top or plan view of the structure;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section showing the use of a straight bit and taken approximately on the same plane as Figure 3; and

Figure 7 is a front elevation, partly broken away and in sections, showing the use of the structure as a hackamore bit.

Referring specifically to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, a pair of side plates ID are employed against the outer surfaces of which a pair of levers H are disposed. Such parts are connected by a bit or mouth piece l2, for instance curved as at l3. This mouth piece has ends or terminal portions l4, reduced and providing shoulders l5. Portions l4 extend through openings l6 and I! in the side plates and levers, respectively, and to fasten the parts together, nuts 18 are threaded on the outer portions of the reduced portions or shanks l4 and fastening pins or cotter keys I!) are preferably passed through openings in the nuts l8 and shanks I4. The side plates [0 turn on the shanks l4, while the levers H are connected to the shanks 14 so that the levers and mouth piece l2 will turn as a unit. To this end, the openings l6 are enlarged to provide diametric slots at and shanks I4 have diametric slots 2| adapted to aline therewith. Pins or couplings 22 are disposed in the slots 20 and 2|, thus connecting the levers and mouth pieces for turnin as a unit and the side pieces [0 for turning on the month piece and relatively to the levers. All of the parts mentioned are detachable as will be understood.

Cheek straps 23 are detachably connected in enlarged slots or openings 24 at the top of the side pieces and a nose band 25 is detachably connected at opposite ends in openings or slots 26 of auxiliary levers 21 loosely pivoted at 28 on the outer surfaces of the sid pieces ii). The levers II at 29 and auxiliary levers 21 at 30 have cam surfaces which are adapted to contact so that rotation of the levers II will rotate the auxiliary levers 21 to apply pressure or bind the nose strap 25 on the nose of the animal.

At the lower end of levers ll they have openings or slots 3| so that eyelets 32 have a connecting link 33 may be fastened thereto, the length preferably being a single strand of wire to enable bending for application and removal. The driving reins 34 are detachably connected in the openings 3! as shown. Forward movement of the upper ends of the levers I l is limited by stops 35a fastened on the side pieces I0.

As a result of the construction described, it

will be seen that when the reins 34 are pulled,

the movement of the levers l I will result in turning of the mouth piece l2 to simultaneously apply pressure of the latter and the chin strap 35 is fastened in openings 36 on the levers, to the animal and at the same time, the auxiliary levers 21 will be rocked on the pivots 28 through the coaction of cam surfaces 29 and 30 to apply pressure of the nose band 25 on the nose of the animal.

The structure is also adapted for use with a straight mouth piece 31 as well as with the curved mouth piece [2. When the straight month piece is used as in Figure 6, the curved mouth piece is removed and reduced screw threaded shanks 14 of the straight mouth piece are applied through the openings l6 and I1 and fastened in place by the same nuts IB and cotter keys or pins IS. The pins 22 however and slots 2| are omitted so that both the side pieces and levers H and mouth piece 31 may relatively turn.

The structure is also adapted for use as a hackamore bit as disclosed in Figure 7 in which event, mouth piece I2 is removed and short bolts 38 are passed loosely through each set of openings Iii-41, being fastened in place by the aforesaid nuts I8 and cotter keys I9 passed through openings in the nuts l8 and bolts 38. Washers 20' are preferably interposed between levers H and nuts 18 in this form. The link 33 is not used but, instead, a chain 39 is fastened in openings 40 in the levers I l above the openings 3|. In this form I also preferably use the nose band 25 fastened to the auxiliary side plates or levers 21, thus providing an automatic nose band feature in a hackamore hit.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A bit of the class described comprising side pieces, levers, a mouth piece passing loosely through the side pieces and connected for turning to the levers, a chin strap connected to the levers, and nose band means for pressure application through movement of the levers.

2. A bit of the class described having side plates, a mouth piece having portions extending loosely through the side pieces, levers with which said portions outwardly of the side pieces are connected for simultaneous turning, a chin strap connected to the levers and connections for a nose band carried by the side pieces and operable by the levers.

3. A bit of the class described comprising side pieces, a mouth piece having'endportions'extending loosely through the side (pieces, levers outwar'dly of the side pieces connected to s'ai'dportions for simultaneous turning therewith, connections for a nose band, said connections being mounted on the side pieces, and 'me'ans to operate the connections through movement of the levers.

'4. A bit of the class described havin'g side pieces, a mouth piece having 'end'portions passing loosely through the "side pieces, levers having openings through which said end portions pass, and means interfitted' with said openings and said portions to cause the levers and mouth piece to turn unitarily.

5. A bit of the class described having side pieces, a mouth piece having endportionsrpassing loosely "through the side pieces, levers having openings through which said end portions pass, and means interfitte'd with "said .openings vand said portions to cause the levers and mouth piece to turn unitarily, consisting of slots extending from the openings and slots in said portions, keys occupying said slots.

6. A bit of the class described having side pieces, a mouth piece having end portions passing loosely through the side pieces, levers having openings through which said end portions pass, and means interfitted with said openings and said portions to cause the levers and mouth piece to turn unitarily, consisting of slots extending from the openings and slots in said portions, keys occupying said slots, auxiliary levers pivoted to the side pieces, said first mentioned levers and auxiliary levers having coacting cam surfaces to move the auxiliary levers as the first mentioned levers are operated, a nose strap connected to the auxiliary-levers.

7. A bit of the class described having side pieces, a mouth piece having end portions passing loosely through the side pieces, levers having openings through which said :end portions pass, and means interfitted with said openings and said portions to'cause theilevers and mouth piece to turn unitarily, consisting of slots extendin from the openings and slots in said portions, keys occupying said slots, auxiliary leverspivoted to the side pieces, said first mentioned levers and auxiliary levers having coacting'cam surfaces to move the 'auxiliaryzlevers as thefirst mentioned levers are operated, a nosestrapconnectedto the auxiliary levers, a chin strap connected to the first mentioned levers, 'cheekjstrap connected :to the side pieces and rein connections on the first mentioned levers.

8. A bit of the class described-comprising side plates, levers disposed against the same, bolt means securing the plates and levers together, auxiliary levers pivoted 'on the side plates, said first mentioned levers and auxiliar levers having coacting cam surfaces, and a nosebandcOnnected to the auxiliary levers.

LOU A. BURGESS. 

